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El Prat Golf Club, Barcelona. (1954 - 2003)
With the city of Barcelona's expansion the Real Club de Golf de Pedralbes was forced to make its first move to new facilities. In 1954 it moved to El Prat de Llobregat beside Barcelona's airport and was subsequently renamed Real Club de Golf El Prat.
The proposed new course was designed by Javier Arana, while the clubhouse was designed by architect José Antonio Cordech Sentmenat. By the end of 1955 the golf course was in operation. The finished work was so successful that only a year later, in 1956, the Spanish Open was played at El Prat, where the likes of Jimmy Demaret, Bob Toski and Peter Allis (who won the tournament) competed.
Report on the 1956 Spanish Open.
Daily Herald Saturday 27 October 1956. Image © Reach PLC. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
In 1968 Javier Arana designed another nine-holes and in 1988 another nine designed by Dave Thomas were added. From 1988 the club had 36-holes.
Report on the second round of Spanish Open played at El Prat in April 1971. A remarkable round for Hugh Jackson who shot a 63. This was nine under par and four better than the course record. The eventual winner was South African Dale Hayes with a total of 275, one ahead of Roberto De Vicenzo.
Daily Mirror Friday 16 April 1971. Image © Reach PLC. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
The Scotsman Monday 18 December 1972. Image © National World Publishing Ltd. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
From the Scotsman Monday 24 April 1978 - "Final 64 Gives Barnes The Title - Brian Barnes won the Spanish Open Golf Championship over the El Prat course at Barcelona on Saturday, a magnificent fourth-round 64 putting him two strokes clear of fellow British Ryder Cup teammate Howard Clark. Leading Scores; Brian Barnes, 276 (67-75-70-64); Howard Clark, 278 (67-67-74-70); Salvador Balbuena, 280 (73-69-69-69); Antonio Garrido, 280 (66-70-74-70); Michael King, 281 (72-68-72-69); Severiano Ballesteros, 281 (72-68-70-71); Mark James, 281 (71-71-65-74); Dale Hayes, 283 (69-71-74-69); Manuel Ballesteros, 283 (70-72-72-69); Jose Canizares, 283 (69-71-69-74).
In October 1983 Irishman Des Smyth, who holed in one during a second round 66, went on to win the £80,000 Barcelona Open Golf Championship by one shot on the El Prat Golf Course, Barcelona.
Report on the third round of the Spanish Open played over the El Prat course in April 1999.
Aberdeen Evening Express Saturday 24 April 1999. Image © D.C.Thomson & Co. Ltd (Aberdeen cut-off). Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
In 2002 the expansion of Barcelona airport forced a third change of location for the club. A new course designed by Greg Norman was built 26 kilometres from Barcelona between Terrassa and Sabadell.
The course at El Prat was closed at the end of 2003. El Prat hosted the Open de España de Golf eight times in 1956, 1959, 1963, 1971, 1978, 1981, 1998 and 1999.
There are a few holes of the course remaining and not yet covered by the airport. There have been plans of a holiday resort for airport employees including use of the old clubhouse, beach house and golf facilities.
Plan of the course from 1955.
Measurements of the above layout:-
Hole One, 375 metres, par 4; Two, 270, 4; Three, 160, 3; Four, 310, 4; Five, 380, 4; Six, 205, 3; Seven, 370, 4; Eight, 350, 4; Nine, 400, 4; Out – 2,820, 34.
Ten, 480, 5; Eleven, 140, 3; Twelve, 470, 5; Thirteen, 350, 4;Fourteen, 400, 4;Fifteen, 510, 5; Sixteen, 400, 4; Seventeen, 170, 3; Eighteen, 370, 4; In – 3,290, 37.
Total – 6,110 metres, par 71.
Layout after 1988.
Above, the El Prat Scorecard cover.
The Google Map below pinpoints the area of the former course near the airport.